Magnetic Levitation Train

The 1st Vostonian Regiment followed Thierry's team, slipping into the Underhive through an abandoned mine shaft.

Thierry Vieira walked up to Nimrod and offered his proposal.

"My Lord, we are nearly four thousand strong now, and your stature is immense."

"To reach the Hive Spire quickly before the Mad King can react, we must raid a train station and seize a mag-lev train."

"Lukpo Hive City possesses a transport system unlike any other; each mag-lev train is 1.6093 kilometers long, capable of moving personnel, vehicles, or supplies at high speeds."

Thierry's voice carried a hint of hatred. "It is precisely because of this technology that the Mad King maintains his rule. When I was conducting guerrilla warfare, my greatest threat came from him—Puhach can depart from the Hive Spire and reach any sector of the Hive City within three standard hours."

"Fortunately, the mag-lev trains move so fast that once a carriage is detached, it takes hours or even several work cycles for friction to bring it to a final stop. I can hijack the carriages directly at a junction."

"The mag-lev technology was unearthed by the ancestors of House Piatkowski from ancient ruins. They obtained the sacred construction templates for the mag-lev trains, and this unique technology is the foundation of their family's standing."

Nimrod nodded, acknowledging Thierry's plan. "Where is the nearest train station?"

Thierry pulled out a data-slate and manipulated it, revealing two routes that curved upward.

"My Lord, the closest one is D-404 Train Station."

"Following this route, the marching distance is 20.5 kilometers."

"However, it requires passing through narrow ventilation shafts. You cannot traverse this path, so you must take this detour, which increases the distance to 31.4 kilometers."

Nimrod fell into deep thought, his mind calculating and formulating a plan at an astonishing speed.

A moment later, he spoke.

"Send a squad to lead the way."

He looked at the eager company commanders behind him, then stepped past them to look at Szczesny.

"7th Company, you have earned the honor. Seize this mag-lev train station."

"As you command, my King."

The 7th Company commander replied loudly amidst the envious gazes of the others. Thierry scanned the men, inwardly startled.

[This King Nimrod's subordinates seem to hold an extraordinary reverence for him. He has only risen to power recently; how did he achieve this?]

Thierry looked at the giant, and realization dawned on him. Nimrod, who resembled a god of war, would indeed inspire such worship.

Szczesny gripped his laser rifle, his eyes filled with battle-lust. The opportunity had arrived.

He noticed Rawlslev pulling a company commander aside to give instructions. The commander, who had lost his right eye but refused to replace it with a bionic one like the others, turned to look over.

The commander, his right eye socket stitched shut, walked back and shouted.

"Move out!"

Szczesny followed his commander and the guide, trekking through filthy sewage pits and crawling through narrow pipes until they stopped 1.4 kilometers from D-404 Train Station.

The guide sent by Thierry whispered to the 7th Company commander beside him.

"D-404 Train Station has five squads in total, two of which are guard squads, rotating in shifts."

"Each guard squad consists of one hundred and twenty-five men."

He then opened his data-slate to introduce the architectural structure of the station to the 7th Company commanders.

"Every train station in the Underhive is built using the D-Standard structure. The layout is identical, consisting of a guard room, platforms, entrances, and exits."

The 7th Company commander nodded after listening. His one eye shifted from the station to the data-slate screen, and after a moment, he spoke.

"4th Platoon, you are responsible for attacking the guard room."

"Szczesny, your squad is responsible for the assault."

Under the envious gazes of the others, Szczesny struck his chest with his fist.

After assigning tasks one by one, the commander addressed all the officers.

"Synchronize time. We launch the attack in ten minutes."

"Now, just as we trained, move to your tactical assault points."

He looked at the men, confirming they all performed the same gesture.

Arms extended to the side, elbows bent, wrists raised to cheek level in a fist, palms facing the one giving the order.

The 7th Company commander whispered, "Execute!"

Szczesny immediately returned to his squad, leading his men in tactical stealth maneuvers, utilizing stone pillars and other terrain to close in on the assault point.

At the designated time, the 7th Company launched their attack simultaneously.

Szczesny's laser rifle fired a beam, striking a guard on the side of the guard room entrance in the head, while another marksman in his squad took out the second.

He pulled out a flashbang, sprinted to the guard room, kicked the iron door open, tossed the grenade inside, and rolled into cover against the wall.

A blinding light flashed within the guard room. The assault team, wearing protective goggles, remained unaffected. Szczesny was the first to charge into the room, pulling the trigger.

The guards raised their weapons and fired wildly, but blinded, they were merely struggling in vain.

Fourteen minutes later, the battle ended. The 7th Company had seized the train station, with only two warriors unfortunately killed by stray fire during the engagement.

The main force led by Nimrod arrived at the station shortly after, and he approached the warriors of the 7th Company.

"Well done. The mission is complete."

Nimrod's praise caused the 7th Company Warriors to puff out their chests.

The squad then arrived at the platform, where the mag-lev train remained locked tightly to the rails while inactive.

Its exterior looked little different from a standard train, but its internal structure was unique; the carriages were connected to the driver's cabin and to each other via couplings, a necessity for the control panel to drive them.

"Board the train!"

Nimrod issued the order. The mag-lev train was designed to transport vehicles, so three of the carriages were taller. Nimrod pulled open the carriage connected to the driver's cabin and stepped inside, the height just enough for him to stand upright.

Bukayo, Rawlslev, the 7th Company Commander, and Thierry also boarded this carriage, while the others boarded the carriages behind.

The technicians under Thierry's command climbed into the driver's cabin, and one of them brought up the control panel.

The control panel consisted of levers, wheels, and intricately carved dials. The technician pulled a lever while reciting a prayer.

The slumbering machine spirit was awakened, and the mag-lev technology activated the recessed levitation plates, causing the entire train to rise slowly until it hovered exactly 2.54 centimeters above the tracks.

"My lord, requesting permission to depart."

After Thierry sought Nimrod's approval, he gave the order to the technician.

"Depart."

The technician pushed the lever, and the propulsion unit began to spin at an astonishing speed, driving the mag-lev train into motion.

En route, Nimrod listened to the 7th Company Commander's briefing, specifically inquiring about Szczesny's performance.

Upper Hive Station B-19.

The station master was leisurely sipping water when, suddenly, an alarm blared.

Frowning, he picked up the intercom.

"Station Master, it's bad! There's a train not on the schedule, and it's approaching at high speed."

"Initiate emergency interception protocols."

The alarm echoed throughout the station. The garrison mobilized in a panic, rushing to the platform to raise the wire barricades.

The high-speed train smashed through the blockade in an instant.

The garrison captain naturally knew that wire barricades could never stop a high-speed steel monster. Seeing the train-jackers bring the vehicle to a halt, he let out a sigh of relief and shouted.

"Prepare to attack!"

The next moment, his eyes widened as he watched the giants leap from the train.

Official Lore: The mag-lev train, also written as "Mag-trans," is an Imperial magnetic levitation vehicle, one mile long (Priest's note: 1 mile equals 1.6093 kilometers), that travels on fixed rails. When the machine spirit of these vehicles is awakened, the train's mag-lev technology uses its recessed levitation plates to suspend the vehicle one inch (Priest's note: 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters) above the rails.